THE SCUTTLEBUTT JACK IVY DETACHMENT Commandant Robert Leon

Transcription

1 THE SCUTTLEBUTT JACK IVY DETACHMENT Commandant Robert Leon FEBRUARY, 2017 NEWSLETTER FOR MARINES & F.M.F. CORPSMEN OF THE JACK IVY DETACHMENT, NUMBER 666, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MONTHLY MEETINGS ON 1ST MONDAY AT 1900 HOURS - at American Legion Post 318, Port St. Lucie If any member requires transportation to/from meetings, please contact the Commandant at: BATTLE OF IWO JIMA Virginia Howell Editor editorjackivy666@yahoo.com Editor s Note: To submit information for The Scuttlebutt it to: editorjackivy666@yahoo.com no later than the 15th of the month. Please write Scuttlebutt in the subject line. 1

2 COMMANDANT S MESSAGE Marines, Corpsman and Associates, Our most important meeting of the year is Monday, March 6. Our regular members will be electing the officers that will lead you for the next year. The Nominating Committee has made its choices, but keep in mind that nominations can also be heard from the floor. The next event of importance is the St. Patrick s Day Parade on Saturday, March 18 th. The Color Guard has been arranged by our Sergeant at Arms, Greg Mann and will be led by our Detachment Pipe Major Mike Foley followed by the Detachment Officers and Members and the Auxiliary. This is a fun event and we usually get together somewhere after the parade for some not so green beer and possibly, some corned beef and cabbage. We ll have 4 vehicles for us old guys and the ladies who can t march. Doc Santa has arranged a car wash fund raiser for the Emergency Fund. You ll hear more about that at the meeting. Finally, the DOF Spring Conference and Leadership School. Another reminder for that important event. See you all at the meeting. Semper Fidelis, Bob Leon Commandant 2

3 BATTLE OF IWO JIMA The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the goal of capturing the entire island, including the three Japanese-controlled airfields (including the South Field and the Central Field), to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II. After the heavy losses incurred in the battle, the strategic value of the island became controversial. It was useless to the U.S. Army as a staging base and useless to the U.S. Navy as a fleet base. However, Navy Seabees rebuilt the landing strips, which were used as emergency landing strips for USAAF B-29s. The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with a dense network of bunkers, hidden artillery positions, and 18 km (11 mi) of underground tunnels. The Americans on the ground were supported by extensive naval artillery and air supremacy over Iwo Jima from the beginning of the battle by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators. Japanese combat deaths numbered three times the number of American deaths, although uniquely in the Pacific War, American total casualties (dead and wounded) exceeded those of the Japanese. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima at the beginning of the battle, only 216 were taken prisoner, some of whom were captured because they had been knocked unconscious or otherwise disabled. The majority of the remainder were killed in action, although it has been estimated that as many as 3,000 continued to resist within the various cave systems for many days afterwards, eventually succumbing to their injuries or surrendering weeks later. Despite the bloody fighting and severe casualties on both sides, the Japanese defeat was assured from the start. Overwhelming American superiority in arms and numbers as well as almost complete control of air power coupled with the impossibility of Japanese retreat or reinforcement, along with sparse food and supplies permitted no plausible circumstance in which the Americans could have lost the battle 3

4 2017 BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION The initial recruitment of African Americans into the U.S. Marine Corps began in 1942 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving black Americans an opportunity to serve in the organization. From across the nation, African Americans came to segregated basic training at Montford Point aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Montford Point Marine Camp deactivated seven years later and renamed Camp Johnson in 1974 in honor of Sgt. Maj. Gilbert H. Hashmark Johnson. Johnson was one of the first African Americans to join the Marine Corps and went on to become the first black sergeant major after serving 32 years in the military. Approximately 20,000 African Americans received basic training at Montfort Point during this time and today s Marine Corps continues to actively recruit and retain African Americans from across the nation. Montford Point Marines were assigned to 51 st or 52 nd Marine Defense Battalions, which at the time were the only black combat units. With the increase in African American recruitment, a majority of black Marines in World War II would later end up serving in pioneer and labor units. African Americans pushed for more career opportunities in the Marine Corps and although they achieved higher ranks, they yearned for the chance to work in other diverse specialties. In 1945, the first three black Marines; two sergeant majors and one first sergeant, arrived to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia, in hopes of becoming the first black officers in the Marine Corps. The unexpected occurred when all three high-ranking men failed to make the grade and receive their commission. Despite the letdown, the Marine Corps assigned more African American Marines to the following 16 th Platoon Commanders Class and only one chose to continue with the course. Pfc. Frederick C. Branch, a Marine formerly with the 51 st Defense Battalion, befittingly commissioned as a reserve officer, Nov. 10, 1945, entitling him as the first black man to achieve the rank of second lieutenant. African Americans gradually began to hurdle over the racial obstacles in the Marine Corps and with this slow transition; more triumphs arose just a few years later. On Sept. 8, 1949, Annie E. Graham enlisted as the first black female Marine. She reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in February 1950, with one other black female into a fully integrated reception, training and housing environment. Female and male recruits transformed into Marines together as Marine Corps boot camp became desegregated. 4

5 2017 BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION 5

6 ATTENTION ON DECK!! Monday March 6th, 2017 is a regular meeting of the Jack Ivy Detachment. This is a very important meeting because we are holding election of Officers. The nominating committee Art Nelson (chairman), "Doc' Savage, and Scott Blair, have nominated "Doc" Eckert for Commandant; Scott Blair and John Jaeger for Sr. Vice Commandant; Joan Laugois for Jr. Vice Commandant; Marcel Cartagena for Judge Advocate. Nominations from the floor will be taken at the meeting. It is very important to come to the meeting. Associate members are not allowed to vote. Nominations for Dept. of FL. Commandant of the Year; Marine of the Year; and 3 examples of the Scuttlebutt have to be in by May 15 to the Dept. of FL MCL. See Owen for the forms and give them back to him as soon as possible so he can send them in. Spring Conference/Leadership School is almost here!! 4/27/17-4/28/17 at Safety Harbor. Don t miss this outstanding opportunity to learn more about the Marine Corps League. For more information, contact Adjutant Owen Sallee Gene Sweeney will be at the Abby Jean Russell Nursing Home in Fort Pierce for a week starting 2/19. Please try an visit him, the address is 700 S 29th Street Marine Corps Ball to be held at the PGA St. Lucie West Country Club just off of St. Lucie West Blvd in St. Lucie West. It is tentatively scheduled for 11/10/2017, we should know by our next meeting in March. Tickets will be $50.00 per person and well drinks or house drinks will be $6.00 ea. Premium drinks will be more. Dinners will include fish, steak, or chicken. The Dept. of FL Convention is to be held in Orlando in June. Scholarship raffle tickets are on sale, paymaster Joan Laugois has them at $5.00 ea. More information to come. Virginia and Chauncelor Howell showed support on 2/4/17 by attending the MOAA first 5k to raise funds for local JROTC and veteran programs. The Marine Recruiters Unit made its presence known and as always, Marines set the standard. Virginia placed first in her age category. 6

7 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!! Virginia Howell 3/12; Frank Ohlau 3/28 Please send in your birthday so we can celebrate with you! CALENDAR 3/1/ Breakfast at the Elks on Lennard Rd. Contact Owen for more information /4/ Car Wash Auto Zone on Prima Vista an Airoso. Contact Doc Santa for more information /6/ Detachment Meeting 3/9/ Fort Pierce Central HS. JROTC Awards Ceremony at the Auditorium. For more info contact Manny Carcel /18/17 St. Patrick s Day Parade. More to come 4/6/ Westwood HS JROTC Awards Ceremony at the Auditorium. For more info contact Manny Carcel /27-28/17 Spring Conference - Leadership School. More to come. OFFICERS Commandant: Robert Leon Senior Vice: Richard Doc Eckert Junior Vice: John Jaeger Judge Advocate: Marcel Cartagena Jr. Past Commandant: Mike Ambrosino Adjutant/Historian: Owen Sallee Paymaster: Joan Laugois Sergeant at Arms: Gregg Mann Quartermaster: Marc Doc Savage Chaplain/Public Relations: Manuel Carcel PRO/Web Sgt.: Scott Blair Americanism/Education: John Cal Berry VAVS: TBD FUNNY BONE 7

8 COMMITTEES Join one of our committees today. Contact the Chair for more information. We surely need you! Nothing like Teamwork! Fall Conference Committee Chair: Mike Ambrosino Ball Committee Chair: Richard Eckert Awards Committee Chair: Manuel Carcel Corporate Sponsorship Committee Chair: Walter Sidd Boys Scouts Committee Chair: Mike Ambrosino Officer Nominating Committee Chair: Art Nelson Color Guard/Flag Committee Chair: Gregg Mann Administration Committee Chair: Marcel Cartagena Membership Committee Chair: Chaplain Committee Chair: Manuel Carcel Scholarship Committee Chair: Bob Giusti SICK AND DISTRESS Wishing continue speedy recovery to Marty Klein, Richard Lusighan, John Vitale, and Gene Sweeney. FALLEN HEROES In the month of February we bid farewell to fellow Marine, Ed Hunter. May the Lord keep you in His grace. IMPORTANT LINKS National Florida Veterans Affairs Detachment Dues, Dues, Dues!!! Remember your dues are due on your anniversary. If you are not current, you will not be receiving any communication from the Detachment until paid up. Contact Paymaster Joan Laugois at

9 ANNUAL IRSC SCHOLARSHIP DRIVE Great job indeed to which I add my thanks and gratitude to the Chair and our Members who stepped up. The amount covers our entire commitment to IRSC for the 2017 school year. Commandant Semper Fi FRIDAY FEB MANNY CARCEL, JOE LUTTON, ART NELSON GREG MANN, VIRGINIA HOWELL, PAUL WILSON MORNING: $ AFTERNOON: $ TOTAL: $1, SATURDAY FEB MIKE AMBROSINO, OWEN SALEE, BRIAN MILLER BONNIE BELZ, DOC SAVAGE, BOB GUISTI MORNING: $ AFTERNOON: $ TOTAL: $ GRAND TOTAL: $ 1, Ed Hunter and his lovely wife Nancy. Seven years ago, they found love, joy and comfort in each other. On 2/12/17 Ed reported to his final duty station. May the Lord keep you. Can we get an Ooh rah!! Congratulations to Sgt. Adams Evans. He was pinned on 2/1/17, Okinawa Japan with 3 rd BN, 12 MAR DIV. 9